Presenter James Whale celebrates heartbreaking ‘last birthday’ surrounded by loved ones after stopping cancer treatment
PRESENTER James Whale MBE celebrated his ‘last birthday’ surrounded by loved ones today after stopping his cancer treatment.
James, 76, who has been courageously battling stage 4 kidney cancer since 2020, chose to spend the poignant milestone in the company of his friends and family.
Lizzie Cundy, a contributor on his TALK show, shared a heartfelt tribute to Instagram from the intimate gathering.
She wrote: “Laughter is the best medicine … Birthday celebrations for my dear friend @jameswhaleradio with @lamontbrownnadine @charliem_obe @simonwi @whodathoughtit .. Happy birthday dearest James, we all love you so much.”
The post featured beaming smiles, with James surrounded by his wife Nadine Lamont-Brown, 59, TV producer Simon Withington, 48, and Pimlico Plumbers founder Charlie Mullins, 72.
Posing for a photo at boutique Kent hotel, Who’d A Thought It, James wore aviator sunglasses and a white shirt for his big day.
Lizzie also shared some playful snaps from the hotel’s grounds, posing with a saxophone alongside Charlie.
James appeared in high spirits in a video posted by Lizzie too.
He cheekily asked her: “Who are you? Lizzie, I didn’t recognise you with so many clothes on.”
Charlie added: “I came back from Dubai Friday night especially to be on his show and to come along today.”
Speaking candidly on camera, James said: “I’m feeling okay. As people know, I’m not about to die – well, you never know, do you?
“I’ve had all my treatment. I don’t want anybody feeling sorry for me, I’m just giving you the lowdown.
“I think if I make it to Christmas, I’ll be exceptionally lucky.
“Sometimes I think it might be easier to just have a heart attack and go.”
As his wife joined him, Lizzie added: “People think of James as Mr Nasty, but he’s a little pussycat underneath.”
Nadine agreed: “No one’s ever been nicer to me than James.”
Earlier this month, James revealed his long-running programme could be coming to an end within weeks, as he reaches the final stage of his battle.
Explaining that his condition has worsened, James said on-air that treatment is no longer an option.
With his co-host Ash Gould, 53, by his side, he told viewers: “I’m at the end of my cancer journey. There is no treatment I can have anymore.”
Reflecting on his career and legacy, he added: “I can’t tell you how grateful I am to Talk to actually let me on the air and sit next to Ash, which is a real pain in the butt, but I’ve been doing it for 25 years!”
James explainied that recent ill health had taken its toll.
A severe bout of flu recently led to an intensive care stay, adding to the growing health concerns he faces.
Despite his condition, he remained composed and even joked: “It might actually be helping me, you never know, so I don’t let that cloud my judgment – but on the medication I am on, I’m all over the place.
“I’m hoping to go on for another few weeks, few months but as soon as I can’t do the show anymore, I won’t.”
For those seeking updates on his condition, James encouraged fans to tune in to Tales of the Whales, the podcast he co-hosts with his wife Nadine.
One of the country’s most revered radio personalities, James has been in the business for no less than 50 years and, in 2023, received the first ever TRIC Recognition Award for his outstanding work.
He’s helped countless others too, having launched the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer in 2006 – now known as Kidney Cancer UK – the nation’s leading specialist charity of its kind.
Terminally-ill James previously told The Sun in 2023: “This could be my last Christmas,” after deciding to come off chemotherapy.
James, who first defeated kidney cancer 20 years ago, had been receiving the aggressive treatment since a second cancer detection in 2020.
Nadine, who he affectionately calls Lady W, has cared for him throughout his health battle and meticulously keeps on top of his hospital appointments and prescriptions.
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